Parachute duel

[Sokol1]

From the same section of Russian forum (loose translation):

 

 

September 18, 1942 Captain Semyon Stepanovich Mukhin pilot of 62nd Regiment destroy a enemy aircraft by "ramming". On that day, at dawn, together with Lieutenant Boris Maslov, takeoff from the airfield Gelendzhik to destroy an enemy spotter plane. The German reconnaissance aircraft FW-189 flew as long-range artillery spotter for adjust fire on Russian coastal battery positions.The pilots attacked the enemy aircraft, but this is fiercely defended. Mukkin as hit by Geman gunner bullet in the left arm, and besides, ran out of ammunition. The attack of his wingman Maslov also ended in failure. Then Mukhin hit the tail of enemy aircraft with the propeller of this LaGG-3. After that, roll the fighter inverted and at height of 3.500 meters unbuckled his harness and fell out of the cockpit of the damaged aircraft. His LaGG-3 fell into the bushes near the road-Novorossiysk Gelendzhik. The wounded pilot began to descend by parachute into the sea. Not far from the parachute of two Germans. Suddently the Germans open fire on Muskhin with his pistols. The Russian pilot also took his gun and in this unusual aerial parachute duel shot the two enemies. After forty minutes in the water was took be a boat. On board the boat were raised as the corpses of German pilots.                                                                

      For this "ramming" Mukhin was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.

 

       German documents confirm that on this on this day failed to returned from a mission in the area of ​​Kabardinka, Gelendzhik  a Fw-189 aircraft of 7th detachment of the 32nd reconnaissance squadron. The Fw-189 crew where pilot sergeant Herman Waldmann, navigator Lieutenant Charles Kolshmidta and gunner sergeant Richard Witt listed as missing by the German Red Cross service.